Nicky Byrne: Being in Westlife does get monotonous after 12 years

Nicky Byrne, 32, is one quarter of Irish boy band Westlife, who have just released their 11th album, Gravity, and are about to start their ninth British tour.

Nicky Byrne: Every time we went to do an album, it was about what cover we could do

Does being in Westlife ever get monotonous?

It does, to be honest. We’re 12 years in. It’s all we’ve ever done since we were teenagers. Every job does become monotonous at times but it’s a fantastic one.

Have you got fed up with singing cover versions?

We were spoilt by the amount of quality original songs we had when we first started. Things such as Flying Without Wings, Swear It Again and Fool Again were amazing pop songs. To keep your career going when you don’t have those quality songs coming in abundance, you’ve got to do something. In the latter part of our career, every time we went in to do an album it was about what cover we could do. It was frustrating because we’re better than that.

Are you happy with the current album?

Delighted. We put our foot down a bit and worked with John Shanks, and did it in his house in LA. It was the first time we’ve worked with just one producer. We were more involved in the songwriting.

What do you listen to yourself?

A lot of chart music but a bit of everything. I love the Black Eyed Peas and you can’t get away from Rihanna . The Script are very good. I like some 1980s stuff. Just one-off songs such as Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship.

Do you have any musical pet hates?

I was never a big Finley Quaye fan and I don’t like really heavy metal.

What’s the worst gig you’ve done?

We did a promotional tour of the US in 2000. We did a local radio station roadshow in a big football stadium. There were ten acts on and about five people standing at the front barrier, and the rest of the place was empty. I just remember thinking: ‘This is a ball of s***e.’

Are you disappointed you never cracked the US?

We all would have liked to. You never admit defeat. Pop had been so prominent in the US with Britney, Christina, Backstreet Boys and ’N Sync – they had three or four years before we got there. The boy band thing worked against us there because people were fed up with it. Our US label sent World Of Our Own to radio stations in LA and New York without our name on it. It got a good response but when they found out who it was they wouldn’t playlist it as they weren’t supporting boy bands.

What lesson has the music industry taught you?

It’s not a nice industry. Until I was 19, I had a footballing background. That’s a very upfront world; the music industry is the opposite. Problems are sorted out in the press – he’s said this about this person, someone else has said XYZ, you hear things from producers or record company people back through the grapevine months later. It’s not nice but I’ve got no regrets. I’ve met a million nice people and nothing beats performing to a crowd.

Louis Walsh used to place ridiculous stories in the press about you. What was the worst?

He did it in the early days with Boyzone too. Before I was in Westlife, I read a story about Boyzone being in a plane crash in Australia; it wasn’t true but it gets the name out there, I suppose. He’s come up with some quirky, mad stories. There was one about Shane falling off the stage and leaving in a wheelchair; we were walking through an airport in Germany at the time when we read about it and there was nothing wrong with him. The thing is, Louis never tells you he’s done it.

What’s been your most extravagant purchase?

When Westlife first kicked off, we all got into cars and watches. We all had Ferraris at one point. Anybody who doesn’t come from money who earns a lot of cash very quickly will do crazy things. I wouldn’t do the same thing now.